- 03/07/2015
- Posted by: Mike Hedges MS
- Category: Press Releases
A new £20 million fund from the Welsh Labour Government to support more than 1,600 disabled people in Wales with their care needs has come into operation, following the closure of the Independent Living Fund (ILF) by the Tory UK Government.
Mike said ‘this is good news for disabled people and their carers as the Independent Living Fund makes life easier for disabled people and those who care for them. Losing this money would have meant great hardship for these people; I commend the Welsh Government for their actions in replacing this fund following the callous decision of the Government in Westminster to withdraw the scheme.’
The Tory UK Government’s decision to close the ILF has caused anxiety among those who receive support and their carers. Thanks to action by the Welsh Labour, disabled people with significant care needs will now receive direct cash payments from local authorities to help meet the cost of the care and support they need.
Until Tuesday June 30, when the ILF closed, people received weekly ILF payments to pay for a range of care and support, including help with eating and drinking, cooking, dressing, cleaning and other domestic duties. 1,648 people received ILF payments in Wales.
The new grant scheme will be delivered by local authorities and will run until the end of March 2017. It was set up following a public consultation by the Welsh Government last year.
Funding of £20.4m has been ring-fenced for the scheme for July 2015 to the end of March 2016, which is based on the number of people receiving ILF when the current scheme closed on June 30.
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